The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-03
BEGINNING OF THE FIGHT.
The Skirmishing Of the Political Guer-
rillas of the Democratic Party.
Jason Browns Willingness to Serve the
Schemers By Taking an 0ffiee-Trouble
for Mcdonald and Gray Speakership.


threads of their affairs into something like pre-
as ever from any well-defned plan of action.
They have settled on two things to do but how
to accomplish the work is the bothersome ques-
tion One is to support Green Smith to the
furthest limit of chance in success, and the
other is the time worn policy of hands off the
Democrats in the House, or there will not be
Republican Senator left to tell the
story-that is. if the democratic gueril-
las in that body can Dust them.
Senator Voorhees, and R. J. Bright reached the
city. yesterday, to take charge of affairs. Dur
ing the afternoon they were at the Grand Hotel
in reach Of many Of the local politicians, rein
forced by the few Democratic members Of the
Senate and House who are the first on the
ground. The list is easily numbered in Senators
Weir, of La Porte. and Andrews, of Paol
with Representative Buskirk. of Paoli. The
advisory gentlemen were United States Marshal
Hawkins, John E. Ja,nb. John P. Frenzel and
ex-senator Mcdonald and VIM. H. English
James III. Rice, who is booked for the succession
to the craftsmanship of the State central COM
mittee, divided his time between the lobby and
the informal caucus, which continued until late
in the evening. with the dropping in and out of
those named. There is not a fullness of conf
dence in everything going in the direction of
Green Smith, but the ground for further support
of the pretender is mapped out. If the
Supreme Court goes against him on the
several issues raised, hope of finding a basis to
fight rests in minority opinion With a
divided court the Democrats propose to come
forward and swear allegiance to Smith under the
hot H.
DO acting Lieutenant governor With him in
the chair and secretary of 1.-THE guerillas'" own
way Of thinking, all the details of the scheme,
frequently unfolded, are to De carried out, or at
least attempt will be made to do so.
1t is not at all singular then that, notwth-
standing the several candidates for the Secreta-
rvs place, Jason Brown, who originated the
Smith pretensions and saddled them on the par
ty when tho leaders were trying to keep away
from the load, few days ago signlfied his will
ingness to be Secretary if it was necessary.
Brown is not in the position of avowed candi
date, but he is ready to assume the office ii the
emergency arises. But editor Moss, of Bloom
field. directly after the election, announced his
ambition for the Office He did not make much
Roadway. for the leaders asked James Walsh to
modify his aspirations for the same place in
favor of Captain Hilligass The latter
got government place. though, and
that required new slate Moss then came to
the front for under the old agreement, Walsh
still kept his promise not to aspire anythin z
-,
| in tho meantime, ex-senator Smith, of Jay:
Thomas L. Catterson, of Mitchell, and II. c.
Darnall of GreencaSsie, came forward for first
| place Thus the complications grew until the
| leaders broke through them and settled on Moss.
| unless the occasion demands politician of
| wider experlence Ii that case it will be
| Brown. The chances are supposed to favor
Walsh for the assistants position whether Moss
or Brown becomes the Secretary, but John D..
| Carter. of Orange, is also pushing his claims as
| Walsh's opponent There is doubt the latter
| is avored by the slate-makers, although Ed
| Wells. of this county, expects to become the
Doorkeeper II his hopes are realized " alsh
| cannot be Assistant Secretary Wells is a knight
| OF Labor, and SAYS he has the Endorsement of
| the 900 members in this city. l. is possib,o
| that this Endorsement does not count for much
with the Democratic Senators, for ex Superin-
| tendent of Police Pritchard of Fanderburg. it
! is believed, has been put down for that Office.
| During the past week the Democrats made An
| effort to hold caucus OF Senators. but mot
enough came in from the outside to fill in a cor
| poralS guard 1t was given up as an untimey
| undertaking until the legislators came to stay
and for the first time. Yesterday, there occurred
anything like discussion on probabilities. Oh
course it resulted in no formal action, for ii was
rather sitting at the feet of Senator Voor
hees and R. J. Bright. who, it is pre-
sumed laid down what should be sale
and done to-day in the proposed caucus
of Senators and Representatives. with the so-callef
| committee of safety. 1t is not possible that this
tors of its party faith what it has done in thu
line of protecting Democratic interests 1t will
simply come into the caucus to hear the Sena
tors say what they intend to do and then leay'
with the impression that it has accom- plisneG
great things to preserve the alleged Democratic
majority on joint ballot. If the committee ha
done practical work it can be credited with
great deal of purpose which failed on accoun
of the want of funds. The committeeman pro
posed TO raise several thousand dollars or al
the money required to carry the senatorial
contests started by the Democrats but it throy
the burden of subscriptions on the localities
from which the contests came. This caused
failure to get anything more than few hundre
dollars, and, therefore, but little buster ha
been made about overwhelming evidence an
matters of that sort. The committee wi
Senators and legislators will do the same. Afte
that the caucus will again resolve to protect tn
alleged majority at all hazards.
| The Democrats are in bad wav for leader
> Governor Gray is being quietly talked about a
something Of an interloper from the Republica
party, ard that he is not entitled to high prefer
ment at the expense of ex-senator McDonal
and others who have never been anything bu
Democrats. On the other hand, Mr. McDoual
is at times referred to in any but com plm N tar
terms. Some of the Gray men have gone so ia
as to revive old illusions that were not uncon
); mon in Mr.. Hendricks term of Leadership
: AS An example, one of them relate
y this: mot many months before Mr.. Hendricks
q death he was in communicative mood abo,
e the position of the party and its candidates x
4 United States Senator. He said in reference
Mr., Mcdonald and il is truth, every word of
8 He was first candidate for President, then a
}, aspirant for a place in the Cabinet and afte
: that for seat on the Supreme Bench all II
Offices do not belong to any one man. Holma
is entitled to the senatorship, and ought to ha,
y it" Directly after Mr.. McDonald's participate
o in the meeting of the State central con
:. mittee last summer. when it had b
y fore it the Bynum Bailey affair. Bynun
o hot over the action of that organization
# attributed it to Mcdonald and blurted out, :
am fer Holman for Senator from this time on
But Bynum himself is candidate, witho,
any qualification, and it brings the party so nei
breaking ND of all calculations in the intere
l. Of Mcdonald that the caucus the Democrat
d Senators and Representatives are to hold me-
lar LII al: ,nicl u